Wiggy to the Rockies

The Orioles lost their one and only All-Star this season, as free agent Ty Wigginton signed a two-year, $8 million deal Tuesday morning with Colorado, a contract that also includes an option for 2013.

Wigginton’s deal is $7.5 million for 2011 and 2012 and includes a $500,000 buyout should the club chose to not exercise their option. The 33-year-old Wigginton enjoyed a career year for the Orioles last season, and will join his sixth Major League team next spring.

Tasked as the O’s utility guy this spring, Wigginton stepped in for injured second baseman Brian Roberts and hit .308 with six homers and 12 RBIs the first month of the season. He followed that up with seven homers and 20 RBIs in May and, although he cooled off at the end of the season, was praised by new manager Buck Showalter for his toughness and gritty play.

A hard-nosed player, Wigginton appeared in 154 games for the Orioles, finishing with a .248 batting average, 22 homers and 76 RBIs. While the O’s maintained an interest in retaining Wigginton, Colorado’s two-year offer was too good to pass up.

Wigginton can play three infield positions and figures to help Denver fill the void created by Melvin Mora, another former Oriole, who signed with Arizona on Monday.

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